News from Central High School -- Philadelphia

As we close in on the halfway mark of the school year, it's time to give thought to what comes next. For all of the students, that means summer vacation, and for some, the last break before "growing up" and moving on to college. Summer is not, however, the time to get started with the financial side of the college equation. That time is right now. Stuff like FAFSA (that's Free Application for Federal Student Aid - it's free, don't pay for it) and CSS (College Scholarship Service profile - not free) can be done now, regardless of any college acceptances or denials. It is also time to apply for summer internships, some of which have application deadlines in February or even earlier. Students in 272, 271 and 270 - bear in mind that a major portion of the Common Application and all other college applications deals with extracurricular activities that can take place any time, not just during the school year. From a recent daily bulletin, "Procrastination is the receptacle in which opportunity is buried."

This newsletter is a volunteer effort brought to you by the Home and School Association with help from the Associated Alumni of Central High School. We hope that you enjoy reading the newsletter and that you will never hesitate to send your comments, suggestions, ideas and stories to us any time at centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com.

We would like to wish all of the Central community - students, parents, teachers, staff, friends and alumni - all the very best for the holiday season and a wonderful new year!

Thank you for reading
Dave Kalkstein - Editor

Course selection and coffee

Confused about course selection? Roster guru Bruce Shanker will lead parents through the process of course selection at this month's Home and School Association meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13 in the Spain Conference Center, second floor. New parents especially will not want to miss this opportunity to learn more about class scheduling and the different requirements for graduation. Find out about how your children can qualify for and register for International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Mentally Gifted and Star (Honors) classes. Also on the agenda is the usual report from Dr. Pavel. You don't have to be a member of the Association to attend, but we would love it if you decide to join. Refreshments will be served.

A New Way of Seeing

In 1950, students from Widener Memorial School, a school for physically-challenged and medically-fragile people, attended Central while their school was being renovated. Determined to keep up the connection, Central launched what has become an annual landmark event, a fundraising drive for Widener's scholarship fund and a talent show with Widener students as the guests of honor. Only four Widener guests attended this year's event on Tuesday, Dec. 22 because of the snow. "They have a different outlook," said Manuel Mathen, 269. "The things we take for granted, they don't. They appreciate everything we do." Manuel heads Students for People in Need, the club which spearheaded the event along with the Student Government Association and helped to raise $2,000 for Widener's scholarship fund. A hundred Central students, from the Pep Squad to individual magicians, singers and musicians, performed for Central's seniors and the Widener guests. Among them was French horn and trumpet player Aimee Goldstein, 269, who belted out the song "Astonishing" from the movie "Little Women." "I'm obsessed with singing," Aimee said. The bigger the audience, the better. Others "just see me as the quiet girl in class. When I'm on stage, I can be completely different."

Action, Camera: Central Broadcasting Network (CBN)

The Central Broadcasting Network (CBN) news crew packed up its video camera, laptop and audio equipment last month and headed for Center City via the Broad Street Subway. Breaking away from the usual in-school coverage, the crew was bound for Love Park, the chosen backdrop for their holiday news broadcast. You may also catch them filming at their usual spot on the library balcony or on the scene at the Club Fair, the Widener Show, International Day or a sporting event. As the camera pans around, you can bet Technical Director Jacob Berman, 270, is behind it.

"There's been a lot more improvement this year (for CBN)," Jacob said. "We have a new plasma TV -- and we're now filming in HD." The CBN Morning Show is broadcast into Central classrooms every Friday during advisory as well as in the lobby on the new 52-inch screen, a gift from class 268. "(In) a typical episode we'll do news from (Central's) Daily Bulletin," Berman added. "We show a CBN original made in Mr. Adelman's media class if we have one-Almost every episode is an interview of some kind."

Richard Adelman, who teaches both English and Media classes, is CBN's club sponsor. CBN has its own advisory class, also headed by Mr. Adelman. "The show has a professional format, with anchors who introduce various segments having to do with school events and various humorous and relevant topics," he said. "This group is a teacher's dream. They take care of almost all of the responsibilities of the broadcast -- the planning, the writing, the production, and the post-production."

However, you can't get the whole story without CBN Editor-in-Chief Kyle Werder, 269, who directs, edits and produces. He's bursting with CBN facts, schedules, plans and lists. He'll describe interviews with Tony Danza or Mayor Nutter or upcoming news events such as the senior farewell project. "Every year CBN does a video yearbook," Kyle said. CBN is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary this year and, according to Werder, they've got plans to celebrate. "We'll be announcing this on air over the next few weeks-Along with this celebration we'll be showing old clips and shows from years past." Can't get enough of CBN? You can take in two years worth of CBN Morning Show episodes at www.cbntv.tk. These shows will soon be available on the Central website as well.

Always Write

Spotted in the hallway: "I'm right 97% of the time. Who cares about the other 4%?" Now that's Advanced Placement mathematics! Wearer of the T-shirt? Chris Bamberski, 269.

Mark Your Calendar

Winter concert: Central High School's orchestra, jazz band, chamber orchestra and string orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20 in the auditorium. On the program? Rossini, Vivaldi and Dvorak. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults.

Financial aid: Central will host a workshop on filling out Financial Aid forms on Thursday, Jan. 28 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Spain Conference Center. This is geared for seniors and their parents.

Ring night: Central High's first annual ring night for juniors will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 at Romano's Catering, 1523 E. Wingohocking Street, in Northeast Philadelphia.

International Day: This is one of the most exciting events of the year. Be sure to volunteer and thereby get a chance to watch fabulous student performances as Central celebrates its diverse student body. The event takes place on Thursday, Feb. 18. See the Help Wanted item below.

Bare Hands to Explore the Future

TJ Babu, 270, vice president of Central's Tech Club, is using her bare hands to explore the future. She and fellow Central tech addicts are dismantling anything they can get their hands on for the sake of science and technology. Babu said the group is "branching out" and striving to make students more tech-confident. "We're broadening our spectrum," she said, adding that the group's main focus used to be simply Mac versus PC. This year the club, which has already hosted representatives from Sony and Sprint to preview new technology, has moved on to dissecting video-game systems as well. Paul Freeman, Central Computer Support Specialist and Tech Club sponsor, said the group really does enjoy the game console market. However Freeman helps them keep their minds, not just their hands, busy. "The Central Tech Club is a group that studies technology trends and how consumers enjoy using technology," he said. "We do this by discussing articles and focusing on what it took for the companies to create their products." The next guest lineup includes visits from Apple, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and more to feed this savvy group's technology appetite.

Fun at the Farm

Who knew that there is a farm just a short Route 18 bus-ride from Central? SEAS did. SEAS is the Student Environmental Action Society, committed to promoting awareness of environmental issues. This small group does a number of big things to make Central (and the planet) a better place. Chris Chow, 269, heads SEAS' recycling program; the group promotes Earth Day (April 22 for those who want to mark their calendars), and, as of last year, SEAS members - and friends - go to "The Farm" at the Awbury Arboretum. Teacher Galeet Cohen, 256, took over as the sponsor of SEAS last year and came up with the idea of working with the Weavers Way Farm as a way to both give back to the community and to expose Central Students to life on the farm. As Ms. Cohen noted, "Where else do you get to use machetes in high school?" (They are very small machetes.) The machetes are part of the collection of tools and other items provided by The Farm that the students use as they harvest, plant, weed, water, mulch, (and sometimes taste) the totally organic vegetables grown there. SEAS's co-presidents, Tashara Jones, 269, and Caileigh Felker, 269, encourage non-members to come along, but to be prepared to get their hands dirty. Tashara said, "I think I attract dirt, but it's fun." Caileigh hopes non-member students will come out and give it a try, "You don't ever have to worry about pulling the wrong thing." Ms. Cohen advised that The Farm gives some of their organic vegetables to a cooperative, sells some at a farmer's market, and also donates some of the organic goodies harvested by the students and others. For students interested in getting a taste of the real world of farming, earning community service hours (an added bonus!), or just having fun in the dirt, join SEAS on their bi-weekly Wednesday after-school visits to Weavers Way Farm when the trips resume in March for the new planting season.

The Ultimate Measure

Central High School students swept the Philadelphia Orchestra's annual Martin Luther King essay contest (again). Sedric Perry, 270, will recite his essay at the orchestra's annual Martin Luther King Day concert at Martin Luther King High on Saturday, Jan. 16th. Sedric was among the four finalists from Central to meet with the Orchestra's Board of Directors and present their essays. Central won four of the six finalist spots among Junior class nominees from all Philadelphia high schools, including private, parochial and charter schools. The finalists need to have more than just good grades and writing skills to present to the Board. They need to have standing in their communities and exceptional extracurricular activities as well. And they have to be nominated and recommended by their teachers. According to Marion Geiger, head of the English Department, "Central students have been batting 1000 since the inception of the contest in 2004."

Essayists were given this quote from Martin Luther King's "Strength to Love" speech: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Students were called upon to write of an event they witnessed that has "profoundly altered the course of events locally, nationally or internationally, and explain its impact and future implications". Not an easy task when added to the other commitments Central students undertake.

The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the finest in the world, and we are all delighted to congratulate Central's finalists Trinh Thach, Marcus Ford, and Lydia Lam, and of course to Sedric Perry and their teachers for their outstanding achievement. For more about the concert, check out Philadelphia Orchestra Calendar.

Coming up next for Central writers - The English Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition. Students study, memorize and perform a monologue from a Shakespeare play. Finalists add sonnets of their own and compete for serious prizes onstage at the Lincoln Center in New York.

Central on Ice

Half-day afternoons aren't just for studying anymore. On Wednesday, December 16th, members of 270 and 271 took the short ride on SEPTA's route 55 bus to the Old York Road Skating Rink. This first-time event was the brainchild of teacher Michael Horwits, 251, the 270 class sponsor. Mr. Horwits teamed up with the 271 class sponsor, teacher Bob Barthelmeh, 228, to put the "fun" into this fund-raiser for both classes. Approximately eighty 270 and 271 students took their turns on the ice, some of whom were very proficient, and many of whom had never before stepped onto the ice (at least not with skates on their feet). Max Manuel, 271, zipped around the ice, having skated with his dad since he was a kid. Olivia Haley-Schmitt, 270, has been skating since five and competes all over the country with a Harrisburg synchronized skating team. Olivia showed us all some beautiful jumps and moves. Even students taking their first spin on the ice had fun, with some spills and chills thrown in. Novice skater Leah Beckhoff, 270, looked great tooling around the ice, right up to the point where she crashed into the boards, laughing, saying, "That's the only way I know how to stop." Some eight teachers and two parent chaperones also joined the fun, showing the kids that adults are "cool" too. Amidst good-natured chanting by both classes of "270" and "271," (with no clear winner on who was louder), Mr. Horwits commented that "it was great to combine the two classes so kids can get to know others outside their class, and it is also a terrific way to expose kids to an activity they can enjoy their whole lives." Stay tuned for more fun when 270 goes skiing in February.

View from the Mayor's Box at Wachovia Center

Great grades and attendance can actually get students more than admission to college. There are also some pretty cool rewards for the "here and now." Picture rewards such as free tickets to the Flyers or the Sixers, in the Mayor's Box. That's right, box seats in the real Mayor's Box, as in Hizonner, Mr. Nutter.

To qualify to earn this gift from the School District's Accountability Office students need to have straight A grades, no absences, and no late arrivals or suspensions. Usually this sort of announcement is made with the phrase "and the lucky winners are..." Not this time. These student won by working really hard and being on time, each and every day.

From 269 winners are William Feldman, James Hettinger, Kant Khatri, Lucas Koerner, Christina Lo, Linda Mak, Helene Shuvaeva and Michael Trang.
270 is represented by Hua Chen, Kimberly Karl, Alexander Klochenok, Faith Konigbagbe, Jacob Lerner, Vasomnoleak Ly, Brenda Nguyen, Lisa Port, and Jordan Konell.
Mayoral guests from 271 are Jackie Cho, Jackson Feeny, and Duyen Quach.
From 272 the Mayor and the Wachovia Center are hosting Edward Bersin, Victor Chan, Cindia Huang, Ashley Kuptsow, Annie Lin, Shannon Thomas, Lisa Wen, Judy Weng and Wendy Wu.

Congratulations to all. We certainly hope that you enjoy the games.

High Expectations

For an extra five points in Christine McArthur's English class, Olivia Ngo, 271, quickly scribbled out a monologue to enter in a contest run by Philadelphia Young Playwrights. Her monologue, "Expectations," an intense rant on the difficulty of meeting the high expectations that Asian parents set for their children, attracted the attention of the group, which finds professional actors to perform student work. So far Olivia has been to two workshops working with a collaborator in advance of an upcoming performance at the InterAct Theatre on Sansom Street. "The character I portrayed is very sarcastic, but then it had to come from somewhere," said Olivia, whose parents have yet to see the monologue.

Help Wanted

Speakers for International Day: Assistant principal Lori Defields is looking for speakers who have international experience to talk to students in classrooms. Here are some ideas: Are you a recent immigrant? Do you often travel for business or nonprofit purposes to another country? Do you have strong connections in Philadelphia's immigrant community? Share your knowledge and experience with students on International Day, Thursday, Feb. 18. Contact chsintday@gmail.com or call Ms. Defields at 215-276-5262, ext. 2351 for details.

Helpers for the International Cafe: Home and School Association president Miriam Foltz needs lot of help setting up the vast buffet of international foods brought in by students for International Day, Thursday, Feb. 18. Stay for as long as you like. Help is especially needed from about 7:00 a.m until 9 a.m. or so. You'll be amazed at the amount of food. Bonus: You can watch the performance, and snitch a few samples. Contact Ms. Foltz at chs_hsF@yahoo.com.

Thank You

Thanks to all who helped with this newsletter. Editor Dave Kalkstein wrote about the View from the Mayor's Box and the Philadelphia Orchestra's Martin Luther King Day Oratory winners. Johnette Miller gave us the scoop on the Tech club and Central TV; Nancy Winter reported on Fun at the Farm and the Ice Skating trip. Kate Spellissy contributed the pieces about community service and the exciting news about the Library website. Editor emeritus Jane Von Bergen contributed items about Widener Day and the monologue contest. Thanks to Diane Luckman, who makes our issues look so good and to Marcella Brown and Tamar Magdovitz, who helped with editing. We appreciate the continued support and assistance of Dr. Pavel and Mr. Walsh.

Got news? Want to let others know about special achievements? Have an idea for an article? Tell us about it at centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com.
All the best to all hands!

Sincerely,

Dave Kalkstein, Newsletter Editor
Central High School - Philadelphia